Cross hole drilling jig

[Brad]

Smokeywolf sent me a video of a nifty way of drilling cross holes while a part is on the lathe. I decided to see what I could work out.

I got a boring bar tool holder when I bought my lathe. I don't forsee ever using a 3/4" shank boring bar so the tool holder was never removed from the protective plastic wrap.



This was perfect. It would let me easily hold a drill at a right angle to the work piece. The carriage would let me easily set the holes at whatever location I wanted. Holes would be square to the part as long as I set the tool holder up square, a pretty easy task. Far easier than holding a drill plumb!



A length of O1 was turned to .750 for a snug fit. I then drilled a slightly undersized hole the length of the piece and reamed it to .3755 with a chucking reamer I had on hand.

I ordered a Jacobs chuck with a 3/8-24 thread on the back. That will be held on the end of a 3/8 inch rod that will slide thru the bushing I made today.

Once I get the chuck I will finish it and post some photos of the tool in action.

Thanks for a great idea Smokey! I appreciate it.

 

[KeithB]

Smokey is a real creative guy...

 

[Brad]

Smokey is a real creative guy...

Yes he is. I think that is a requirement for a good machinist. I'm learning that sometimes one learns to make do with what one has.

 

[freebullet]

Damn, thats pretty sweet! Helps solve a nasty problem.

 

[smokeywolf]

Can't take any credit for this whatsoever. Stumbled across this video uploaded to youtube by a very resourceful British gentleman. He's put quite a few videos up that are interesting and informative; particularly to home shop machinists.

Resourcefulness has to be one of, if not the most, valuable quality(ies) in a machinist.

 

[Stonecrusher]

That is pretty slick!

 

[Pistolero]

Very cool idea. Stealing good tooling ideas is the hallmark of a good machinist, one
who knows HOW GOOD the idea is at a glance and will take it and run with it where somebody
else can't see how good an idea it is and passes it by.
I will likely build one of those, too. Very good idea.

Bill

 

[Brad]

Got it done. Shaft fits quite nicely. Need to put a little oil on it for lubrication.

Now I need to go make a lube die and give it a go.

Bill, I used a Jacobs chuck threaded 3/8-24. That was my only expense so this cost me less than 25 bucks not including what I had on hand.

 

[freebullet]

Impressive!

Once the mill shows up you are really guna be set.

 

[Pistolero]

I already have a salvaged Jacobs chuck, this will be on my list of stuff to
add to my tooling drawer, too.

Bill